Joseph & Melissa

The first time we photographed a Zenith Vineyard wedding, tucked a little out of the way in Salem’s wine country, it had been pouring rain and while it gave us a unique challenge that resulted in some really fun rain portraits, we were pretty excited to return to Zenith this summer…in the sunshine!

Joseph and Melissa couldn’t have asked for a better August day for their wedding. It was beautiful, yet with just enough cloud cover to keep it cool and comfortable. Which we don’t think we would have mattered anyway, as Joseph and Melissa were seriously one of the most easy going couples we photographed this summer. Melissa had not a care in the world as she got ready with her girlfriends, sister and her adorably charismatic nieces. She was the picture of calm, until her dad came to see her which pretty much got the whole room choked up. Meanwhile, Joseph had the group of guys that every groom should have. Funny, energetic and ready to help Joseph in any way they could, even if that meant shaving his head while giving him beer. At the same time.

Their wine country wedding continued with an equally thoughtful and touching ceremony that overlooked the incredibly landscape of the Salem hills. For their reception, the only thing we can say is that Melissa and Joseph really know how to entertain a crowd. Zenith served an amazing selection of wine as guests dined on local northwest cuisine. The couple happily danced, Melissa smashed a little cake on Joseph and the cherry on top was when Joseph, who now has a friend in Daniel as a fellow whiskey aficionado, arranged for a classic bar set up of aged whiskeys and cigars on the grass below the reception. It was pretty much a perfect day and one that was given to two people who could not be more deserving of it.

Thank you, Joseph and Melissa, for inviting us into your day and treating us like guests as well! Cheers!